Campaign against profiteering continues during Ramazan: Commissioner

KARACHI: Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui has said that the city administration has geared up its operation against profiteering and overcharging, and adulteration in food items on the part of shopkeepers resulting in large scale arrests, imposition of fines and awarding jail terms, said a press release issued here on Saturday.

The Commissioner at a briefing noted that during the last eleven days of Ramazan 2551 shopkeepers were challaned and a total amount of Rs 4,830,500 were realized from them as fine. Besides, 257 shopkeepers were sent to jail for indulgining in adulteration and violation of official price list.

He further stated that the deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners and ‘mukhtiarkars’ of the six city districts were engaged in providing relief to people on behalf of the government and had unleashed crackdown against profiteers and adulterators since the inception of the month of fasting. 468 milk sellers were challaned during this period, recovering a total amount of Rs1,784,500 from them as fine; 684 fruit vendors were challaned and Rs 785,700 were realized from them as fine. Rs832,100 were recovered from 906 green grocers, Rs 62,500 from 13 meat sellers, Rs 768,500 from 330 chicken sellers, Rs 77,200 from 25 wheat flour sellers as fine.

The Commissioner directed the city administration officials to continue crackdown against defaulters mercilessly.